At a recent meeting of the Community of Latin America and the Caribbean States (CELAC), Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha emphasized the need to update the Food Security and Nutrition (FSN) Plan to tackle regional challenges and global events. The meeting, which combined in-person and virtual participation, involved discussions among Agriculture Ministers and senior officials about the FSN Plan.
Minister Mustapha highlighted the concerning food security statistics in Latin America and the Caribbean, noting the region’s susceptibility to global crises and climate change, which could exacerbate food security issues. He stressed the importance of joint efforts by Member States to ensure regional food security.
Mustapha stated, “Updating this FSN Plan is one step, but even more important will be the implementation of the Plan. The increasing gender gap in food insecurity in Latin America and the Caribbean must be expeditiously addressed. Projects being implemented to address the issue of food security must have a focus on the inclusivity of women. For example, all of our new projects aimed at developing agriculture in Guyana target a 20% representation of women and a 35% representation of youth.”
He also mentioned Guyana’s commitment to inclusivity, empowering youth, women, and differently-abled groups through policies that ensure access to resources and support family farming. Mustapha also advocated for intra-regional food trade as a key to food security, referencing Guyana’s cooperation with Barbados and the establishment of the Guyana-Barbados Food Terminal to facilitate regional food distribution.
“Policies and tangible actions are being put in place to remove non-tariff barriers and through bilateral cooperation with Barbados particularly with the Guyana-Barbados Food Terminal being established which will help food to be moved across the Region,” he added.
Mustapha also underlined the need for sufficient funding for the FSN Plan’s implementation, calling for public and private investments in food security and nutrition at national and regional levels.
“For the FSN Plan to be implemented adequate financing is necessary. With the FSN Plan being implemented at the national and regional levels there must be public investment in food security and nutrition by every member state. Further, Governments must encourage private investment in areas along the food value chain that will contribute to more food being available and accessible.
He said too that the region must collectively lobby for increased funding from international development partners given its vulnerability.
